Thank you for the opportunity to provide an update from Council in this edition of the Chatswood West Ward Progress Association Newsletter.

It’s been a busy year across Willoughby. We’ve made strong progress on local projects and continued to focus on building a safer, more connected and vibrant community. With summer here, it’s a great time to enjoy our local parks and open spaces. As temperatures rise, please take care during extreme heat and use Council’s online heat map to plan ahead.

Across Willoughby, we’re continuing work to activate and strengthen our local centres as places where small businesses thrive and communities connect. At the October Council meeting, I brought forward a Notice of Motion to explore new ways to support and revitalise these areas. A report outlining potential initiatives will be presented to Council at the December meeting.

In Chatswood West Ward, planning is underway to upgrade the Neighbourhood Centre at the corner of Fullers Road and Greville Street. The project will deliver streetscape improvements based on feedback from community consultation that is currently taking place. The aim is for construction to take place in the 2026/27 financial year. We are also progressing the Pacific Highway Mowbray to Boundary Road shared path, with community engagement planned for mid-2026.

Meanwhile, the upgrade of Willoughby Leisure Centre is in its final phase, with tiling, lighting and landscaping nearing completion. Once reopened, the centre will offer improved accessibility, modern amenities and energy-efficient design.

As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any feedback.

Wishing you and your families a safe and happy festive season.

Yours in Community,

Tanya Taylor
Mayor, Willoughby City Council

E: Tanya.Taylor@Willoughby.nsw.gov.au

Traffic congestion matters raised by residents (and experienced by all of us) continue to concern me and, with North Shore densification focussed on the Pacific Highway, are set to get much worse. Thousands of new dwellings are on their way in Chatswood, and many more around rail stations further north (Roseville, Lindfield, Killara). Even with development proximity to stations, developers want to provide multiple car spaces, typically 1.5/dwelling. In the case of Lindfield, 9,400 new dwellings are envisaged, with potentially 14,100 car spaces. Those new residents will require car access via the Pacific Highway and Lady Game Dr/Delhi Rd. My query to State Transport Minister, Hon John Graham, about future car traffic was answered “While Transport for NSW acknowledges that there may be cumulative impacts from multiple developments in a precinct, it is not within the legislative remit to model or mitigate the effects of future development that has not yet been approved or constructed.”

There is no doubt that traffic woes will increase as a result of North Shore densification, but while the Government talks the talk about active transport, green travel plans, and travel mode change (read more walking and cycling and potentially e-scootering), funding for relevant infrastructure improvements is slow to materialise. I want to see a lot more residents feel safe and comfortable about, for example, doing their grocery shopping by bike, or taking children to school on an e-cargo bike. The new Metro is great, but does not answer all needs.

Our bushland is an asset valued by all, yet threatened by invasive weeds. Over the coming year I ‘ll encourage Council to increase its efforts in removal of these, not only in bushland but on verges.

West Ward’s recreation assets lag behind those of other Wards and adjacent municipalities. I’ll continue to advocate for a better deal for West Ward, eg provision of exercise equipment and a bike park facility.

Council’s website is difficult to navigate, and could be much more informative – that is an area where I’ll push for improvements.

Illegal development activity is a blight throughout Willoughby. I continue to raise concerns and specific examples with Council Officers.

Dear Residents,

As we reflect on the past year, I would like to sincerely thank our community for your continued engagement, ideas and support. It has been a rewarding year working alongside you to make Willoughby an even better place to live, work and connect.

Council has made strong progress on local infrastructure improvements including the upgrade of the Willoughby Leisure Centre, enhancements to Chatswood CBD footpaths and the investment in a 3,000-psi high-pressure cleaning truck to help keep our neighbourhoods clean and welcoming.

We have also strengthened our commitment to active transport, advancing plans for a safe, separated bike path linking Chatswood and St Leonards—a key step toward encouraging greener and more accessible travel options for all ages.

In addition, we have made significant improvements to our Development Application (DA) process, reducing the average approval timeframe from 222 days to just 59 days as of September 2025 — a major achievement in streamlining services for our residents and local businesses.

Empowering education remains another key priority. I have been working closely with residents, schools, and Council to identify and address the gaps in learning opportunities for our younger generation, ensuring they are supported to thrive with our local early childhood education centres.

As we look to the future, I will continue to champion thoughtful development, strengthen local small businesses, and make sure our community’s voice is at the heart of every decision we make.

Thank you for being an active part of the Willoughby community. I look forward to continuing to serve you and to building a sustainable, vibrant city together.

Warm regards,
Cr. Michelle Chuang
Councillor, Willoughby City Council – West Ward

It’s been a good year for West Ward and an action packed for Council, with major mandated changes to our planning system coming in fast and furious as part of the state’s efforts to add density due to the housing crisis.

Some of these changes have had positive effects, like more flexibility and investment in our planning team, achieving a reduction in DA times from almost 200 days to 59 days at last count.

Other changes are more frustrating, like the Chatswood Dive Site.  Years ago, I championed an effort to get the state to agree to invest in a new school and public space when the metro left.  We had success with the last government, but the current one has now decided to build a high rise there instead, with no consultation with Council.

Locally in West Ward, I’m pleased to see some the projects I’ve pushed in the past come to fruition, like the safety upgrade of the bush footpath from Dalrymple to Beresford, the off-lead dog park trial in Campbell park with newly installed fencing, the amenity improvements and planter boxes installed around our local neighbourhood centres, the line-of-sight safety improvements for the crosswalk at Epping Rd & Mowbray Rd, and various infrastructure renewal upgrades.

Some of these projects are still ongoing, like the safety improvements and pedestrian refuge along Fullers Rd, the updating of the Fullers Rd commercial district, updates to OH Reid park including playground upgrade and a half basketball court, and a new pedestrian refuge along Mowbray Rd West near Rotary Field.

It’s great to see these investments in our ward.